Carb Problem?

[Whaler]

Hal
Getting to this momentary richness, did you ever notice your exhaust puff out black when this happened?

Reading thru one of my Holley books tonight I see a paragraph saying that most HP carbs come a little too rich for the street engines and that they can easily go down a "few jet sizes"

My 850 has 78 and 80 out of the box. I smell rich on idle and have the 4 idle air mixture screws turned to only 3/4 of a turn out.

I am happy to see that the mixture screws can be brought in with an effect on idle. If the idle screws have no effect, when seated or close to seating, then one has other problems to chase after.

I wonder if I should just simply go down a couple jet sizes right off the bat? They say to do it 2 sizes at a time. I am practically at seal level.

I have not down roadtests as it not roadworthy or legal right now.

Last thing that bugs me is that I have a pop sometimes at the carb when cold starting the car. It has the manual choke wired open and I wonder if this pop is purely a function of a cold start or me not knowing( learning) how to throttle the carb. If it's timing, am I too advanced at 16 or should I go back toward 12ish.
Many suggest 2 good pumps before starting to get some gas into the carb as the signal is weaker with the choke plate open. BTW, Poor atomization and all. It's not even 60 degrees up here ....My car takes at least 5 minutes at 1500- 2000 rpm before I am at 80C on the gage.
Then I might be lucky and can take my foot off the gas for an idle of about 900rpm.....lol

Tim